• What is the A+ Scholarship Program?
     
    Graduates of Republic High School can qualify for a state-paid financial incentive to attend any public community college or career/technical school in Missouri through the A+ Scholarship Program. 
     
    Republic R-III School District received designation as an A+ School from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the Spring of 1998.  With the A+ Scholarship Program, students have more opportunities to explore various career options and start preparing for future workplace experiences.
     
    To date, 2,998 students have graduated as A+ Scholarship recipients utilizing funding for post-secondary career study.  In the 2021-2022 school year, 52% of the graduating senior class graduated with A+ Scholarship recognition.
     
    Whether students are planning to go directly into the workplace upon graduation or continuing their education at college or a vocational/technical school, all students can benefit from the A+ Scholarship Program.
     
     
     
     
     
    A+ Requirements
     
    A student who qualifies according to the following criteria and continues an education at a Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school can be eligible for financial assistance for tuition and general fees subject to legislative appropriation:
     
    • Sign an A+ Agreement
    • Attend a designated A+ public high school for at least two of four years
    • Graduate from high school with an un-weighted Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
    • Maintain at least a 95% attendance record for the four-year period
    • Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring for other students
    • Maintain a record of good citizenship, including the avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs and alcohol
    • Achieve a score of Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) exam, or a higher level DESE approved EOC exam in the field of Mathematics, or a qualifying math subscore as established annually by the MDHE on the ACT exam
     
    The financial incentive is available only after the student has made a good faith effort to first secure all available federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that does not require repayment.

Important Updates

  • March 3, 2022 - A+ Scholarship EOC Requirement Accommodation for 2022 Graduates

     

    According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, the Algebra I EOC requirement to acquire the A+ Scholarship will be waived for all graduating 2022 seniors, including those who graduated early in December 2021.

     

    Effective March 3, 2022, the senior class of 2022 will not be required to meet either the Algebra I EOC requirement or its alternative. This
    includes 2022 seniors that graduated early.

     

    The announcement can be read in total at the following link:

    https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php

     

    Comments (-1)
  • OTC Information

     

    Even if you are planning on attending a 4-year college, you can still take advantage of A+ by taking OTC summer classes for FREE if you are eligible for the A+ scholarship.  The details for OTC summer enrollment are below: 

     

    OTC Summer A+ Scholarship FAQ’s

    If I am seeking a certificate or degree at OTC, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

    Yes. If you are eligible for A+ and wish to enroll for the summer semester, be sure to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

    If it is my first summer after high school graduation, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

    Yes! The Missouri Department of Higher Education allows you to use A+ program benefits at a community college your first summer after high school graduation, even if you plan to transfer to a four-year college or university in the fall. Just be sure to complete the steps outlined below.

    If I am seeking a certificate or degree at OTC, can I use A+ for the summer semester?

    Yes. If you are eligible for A+ and wish to enroll for the summer semester, be sure to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours.

    If I am attending another college, can I come back and use A+ for the summer at OTC?

    The answer to your question, visiting students are not eligible. Here is why…

    The Missouri Department of Higher Education (MDHE) permits a student to use A+ Program benefits at a community college his or her first summer after high school graduation, even if he or she plans to transfer to a four year college or university in the fall.

    Visiting students to OTC or students enrolled at 4-year colleges and universities during the prior fall or spring semesters of the current school year are not eligible to use A+ funding during the summer semester.  This is due to the fact a student must be degree seeking at the institution where A+ is utilized.  If your intent is to transfer your summer credits back to a four-year college for the fall semester, you are degree seeking there, not OTC; therefore, you would not be eligible.

    If you are attending OTC during your first summer after high school graduation, or if you are pursuing a certificate or degree at OTC, and you meet the requirements of A+, you must complete the following steps:

    1. Apply for admission to OTC at http://www.otc.edu (Links to an external site.) (New HS graduates will need to register as a First-Time Freshman)
    2. Select a program of study (Visiting students are not eligible)
    3. Enroll in a minimum of six (6) credit hours
    4. Have your Final Official High School A+ stamped transcript sent to our Admissions Office (after graduation)
    5. You must have a 2020-2021 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with OTC
    • To complete a 2020-2021 FAFSA go to http://www.fafsa.gov (Links to an external site.); Federal School Code is 030830
    • If you have already completed a FAFSA for classes beginning this fall, you MUST go back and complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA for the summer semester
    • This is because the summer semester is the tail end of the 2020-2021 academic year
    • The last possible day you may submit the 2020-2021 FAFSA is June 30, 2021

     

      

    Comments (-1)
  • April 15, 2021 - A+ Scholarship EOC Requirement Accommodation for 2021 Graduates Due to COVID-19

     

    We just received word from the Missouri Department of Higher Education that all 2021 Graduates will NOT have to meet the Algebra 1 EOC or ACT equivalent requirement in order to receive the A+ scholarship. To receive the scholarship, you must have 95% attendance, 2.5 GPA or higher, have your 50 hours of tutoring logged and submitted (25 hours for 2021 Graduates), and have no drug or alcohol offenses. If you have met those requirements, you are eligible for the A+ scholarship. 

     

    The official statement regarding the EOC Requirement from the Missouri Department of Higher Education is available here: 

    A+ Algebra I End of Course Exam Requirement for 2021 Seniors

     

      

    Comments (-1)
  • October 20, 2020: A+ Scholarship Accommodations for 2021 Graduates in Response to COVID-19

     

    The Missouri Department of Higher Education has determined that the required completed tutoring hours for 2021 Graduates will be reduced from 50 to 25, due to the continued effects of COVID-19.

     

    The official updates to the A+ Scholarship for 2021 High School Graduates, including the tutoring hours accommodation, may be viewed here: 

    A+ Scholarship COVID-19 Accommodations for the 2020-2021 Academic Year

     

    Comments (-1)
  • March 20, 2020: A+ Scholarship Updates for 2020 Graduates in Response to COVID-19

     

    The following link to the Missouri Department of Higher Education informs 2020 high school graduates of important updates to the A+ Scholarship in response to COVID-19

    MDHEWD issues guidance regarding A+ Scholarship eligibility amid COVID-19

     

     

    Comments (-1)
  • Contact Information
     
    A+ Coordinator:  
    Dr. Callie Newton-Woods, Assistant Principal
    callie.newton-woods@republicschools.org 
     
    A+ Secretary:  
    Venita Watts
    venita.watts@republicschools.org 
  • RHS A+ Graduates
     
        

    YEAR

    Number of
    A+ Eligible Graduates

    1998

    23

    1999

    62

    2000

    66

    2001

    80

    2002

    94

    2003

    115

    2004

    85

    2005

    105

    2006

    116

    2007

    93

    2008

    114

    2009

    104

    2010

    129

    2011

    135

    2012

    130

    2013

    119

    2014

    131

    2015

    125 

    2016

    166 

    2017

    149 

    2018

    179 

    2019

    171

    2020

    160

    2021

    175

    2022

    172